by Chris Coonce-Ewing


I recently moved and during the process much of my brewing gear was shuffled around and placed into temporary storage. I had been using a plastic mash paddle. I'm sure you've seen them, they're about $5.00 at most homebrew shops.

I wanted to brew, but without a mash paddle I wouldn't be able to stir the wort and I was concerned about scorching. I know, I'll just buy one of those wooden mash paddles! Well at $30.00 or more each that just isn't an option.

So... I did a little research and found hardwood (1x3 Red Oak) for just $1.18 a linear foot. I wanted a 3' mash paddle so.... $3.54 later I had my wooden blank (see right).

	First I drilled holes like these. I didn't really use a pattern, I just eyeballed it and drilled. My paddle has a homemade look, but that's okay, it's for making homebrew:
	I then made my first series of cuts with a jig saw, cutting out the parts around the "shaft" of the mash paddle:
	I then made the cuts out of the paddle to give an area that the mash (in a whole grain batch) can flow through:
	I then sanded the paddle and rounded the edges. At this point some people would oil the paddle (using a food grade mineral oil). I didn't with mine yet. I am actually thinking of just letting it age with the character of multiple brews.